Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 29, 1986
• Invested on: December 05, 1986

Hugh Symington, Jr., M.B.
Martin Villeneuve, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On the morning of 23 November, 1985, volunteer Firefighters Hugh Symington, Jr., and Martin Villeneuve took as small boat onto Lake Champlain to rescue two duck-hunters whose boat had just capsized in Missisquoi Bay, approximately one kilometre off shore. While one man attempted to swim back, the other kept himself afloat by hanging onto two large decoys. Undeterred by their inexperience in water rescue, Firefighters Symington and Villeneuve launched their leaking boat. One their first try, they were thrust back onto the rocks. Battered by the waves, they reached one victim who was exhausted by his attempted swim to shore. As his wet clothes made him too heavy to pull into the boat, they held onto him over the side, rowed to the other man and positioned the two panic-stricken hunters on either side, close to the front. Unable to start the motor for the return journey, Mr. Symington rowed back, while Mr. Villeneuve, whose hands were numb with cold, hung onto the two semi-conscious men. He urged them on and forced them to remain awake until they reached the shore where they were assisted by witnesses.